DHA announces medical fitness statistics for first half of 2014

September 2, 2014 2:14 pm

The Medical Fitness Department of the Dubai Health Authority(DHA) announced the number of medical fitness tests conducted during the first half of 2014.

Maisa Al Bustani, Director of Medical Fitness at the DHA said: ” The medical fitness department at the DHA conducted a total of 992,322 medical fitness procedures of which 478,451 fitness tests were for issuance of new visas and the remaining were for renewal of visas.”

Medical Fitness is a mandatory requirement for all expats in the UAE. It is required for a residency, employment or education visa.

The DHA has 16 medical fitness centres located across different parts of the emirate for issuance and renewal of medical fitness tests.

Al Bustani advised that people who employ house help should get their employees screened for infectious diseases as soon as they arrive in the UAE. She said: ” Mandatory screening for housemaids includes Hepatitis B, HIV, TB, Syphilis and pregnancy test. The housemaid also receives all three doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine, if she does not have it already. We advise people to get their house help screened as soon as they arrive in the country.”

She said two categories of employees undergo additional screening, these include, household workers such as drivers, cooks, gardeners, nannies and housemaids. The second category includes people in the food industry, those working in beauty parlours and health clubs. ” Additional screening is required for these categories because of the sensitivity of their profession.”

In terms of service provision, she highlighted that the DHA offers mobile medical fitness service for companies with a large number of employees. “This is not the Tawajod service, it’s an additional service we started for companies with a large number of employees. This service is available for renewal and issuance of visas. Our team conducts on-the-spot blood tests in the premises of the company and then provides appointments for the x-ray tests at a centre closest to the company. We encourage more companies to make use of this opportunity. At one time more than 70 employees are screened.”

In addition, the DHA has the Tawajod( at your doorstep) service and Tawajod Xpress service. This service is free of cost for people with special needs and Dh 260 is charged for visa.

Al Bustani said, ” In addition to providing such services, we are also expanding our centres. By early 2015, we will establish two medical fitness centres for occupational screening. This screening is needed for those people who wish to get a certification according to the requirement of their profession such as a pre-employment certificate for employees working in private and government sector. It is also required for heavy truck drivers, civil defence professionals etc, people working in the food industry etc. due to the nature of the job. The centres will be located in Mirdiff and Karama.

“By the end of 2014, we will establish one new branch in new Dubai exclusively for VIP patients. We have received many requests from customers in new Dubai for VIP medical fitness and in line with this demand we are building an exclusive centre in new Dubai. Our expansion plans are in line with the demand we witness. This area includes Dubai Marina Discovery Gardens etc.”

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